Annette QuijanoServing

Annette Quijano

State HouseDemocrat

NJ-AD-20 State House

Age 63·Puerto Rican·Speaker Pro Tempore (2025-present, first woman and first Latina)

Why This Race Matters

Quijano is the first woman and first Latina to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore of the NJ Assembly, making her the highest-ranking Latina in the NJ legislature. She won re-election in November 2025 with 43.1% (35,616 votes) in the two-seat District 20 race. Her next election is in 2027.

In the June 2025 Democratic primary, Quijano and running mate Ed Rodriguez defeated Sergio Granados and Walter Wimbush. She then won the November 2025 general election alongside Rodriguez. NJ Assembly elections occur in odd years; her current term ends January 2028.

About

Annette Quijano is the Speaker Pro Tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly, the first woman and first Latina to hold that position. A native of New Jersey and the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, she has represented the 20th Legislative District (Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle, and Union in Union County) since 2008. Her activism began as a teenager when she organized a grassroots campaign against a cable company's decision to eliminate Spanish-language programming, which led to her election as the youngest board member of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey and later its youngest vice president.

Family & Heritage

Native of New Jersey, daughter of Puerto Rican parents. Her activism began as a teenager organizing a grassroots campaign against a cable company's decision to eliminate Spanish-language programming. She was elected the youngest board member of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey and later its youngest vice president.

Political Career

Before Politics

Municipal prosecutor for the City of Elizabeth; Assistant Governor's Counsel under Governors McGreevey, Codey, and Corzine; Chief of Staff to State Senator Raymond Lesniak (1992-1994); Assistant Counsel to Union County; Clerk to Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders; civil attorney in private practice; Compliance Manager for Prudential/Aetna U.S. Healthcare; adjunct professor at Kean University; instructor for U.S. Hispanic Advocacy Association intern program

Education

B.S. in Management from Rutgers University; J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark (1991); admitted to bars in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Awards & Recognition

Latina Civic PAC endorsed; NJ League of Conservation Voters endorsed (2021)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Worker protections (authored nation's strongest anti-wage theft law, expanded paid family leave, unemployment benefits for striking workers)
*Immigrant rights (championed driver's licenses for undocumented residents, stands with immigrant communities)
*Gun safety (advanced gun safety legislation as Judiciary Committee Chair)
*Religious institution security (Thomas P. Canzanella 21st Century First Responders Act)
*LGBTQIA+ rights
*Climate accountability (member of Center for Climate Integrity Leaders Network)

Notable Legislation

Driver's Licenses for All

Prime sponsor of driver's license legislation for all eligible NJ residents

signed into law

Anti-Wage Theft Law

Nation's strongest anti-wage theft law

signed into law

Expanded Paid Family Leave

Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers

Thomas P. Canzanella 21st Century First Responders Act

Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations Removal

Removal of statute of limitations on sexual assault

Non-Profit Security Pilot Program

Religious institution security via Non-Profit Security Pilot Program

A3518 - Digital Driver's License Bill

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